Lisa Lee Rust is a minister and Director of the Rust Family Foundation. The Rust Family Foundation supports non-profit and faith-based organizations that are addressing needs of the greater community through innovative, collaborative, and sustainable endeavors. It also advocates for the integration of faith and work, helping individuals, congregations, and businesses create a seamless connection between faith and profession.

In 2022, Lisa graduated from Campbell University Divinity School with a Masters in Faith and Leadership Formation. Lisa embraces her role as a generalist, able to adapt and lead in many different settings. She does not serve on a church staff; instead, she regards her “marketplace ministry” as an opportunity to walk alongside others with spiritual hospitality. She is a former moderator of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) of North Carolina and has served in leadership for CBF North Carolina and CBF Global. She is a former Chair of the UNC Health-Southeastern Foundation and advocates for equitable, accessible healthcare for all populations in rural North Carolina.

A 1987 graduate of Furman University, Lisa comes from a Furman Legacy family, as her father, Robert Lee (Furman ’58), sons James (Furman ’11) and Jordan (Furman ’13) and daughter-in law, Casey (Furman ‘13) are all graduates. Her years at Furman include Furman Singers and Senior Order. She is also past member of the Parents’ Council.

Lisa and her husband, Kenneth, owned and operated McDonald’s franchises in Southeastern North Carolina for over 30 years before retiring in 2024. The Rusts viewed their family business as a “people” business, specializing in hospitality to both customers and employees. Throughout their career, they were proud to offer employment benefits not standard in their industry: competitive wages, insurance, a 401-K plan, tuition scholarships to local colleges and universities, and a full-time chaplain and life coach.

Lisa enjoys playing the piano, singing, and reading. She and Kenneth are avid travelers, aided by Kenneth’s private pilot’s license, and frequently travel to Atlanta, GA and Arlington, VA to visit their three grandchildren. Lisa especially delights in gathering with her Furman roommates and suite mates, as they have done every year since 1987.